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"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave
the tenth of the spoils" (verse 4).
The word used for spoils (akrothinion) is composed of thin, "a heap of corn" and
akros, "the top". The top of a heap of corn indicates the best, and the suggestion is that
Abraham gave a tithe of the best. Not that Abraham tithed the best of the spoil only, for
Heb. 7: 2 says, "he gave him tithes of all", but that which he did give as a tithe was
taken from the very best. Here therefore is one item which contributes to the impression
of greatness which Scripture gives to Melchisedec. But this is not all. Not only is our
attention directed to the tithe, and the fact that it was made up of the best of the spoils,
but we are called upon to observe who it is that gave these tithes:
"Unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils."
Dr. Owen says that the conjunction "even" is emphatic and, though joined with "the
tenth", yet in construction it must be understood with Abraham; not "unto whom
Abraham gave even a tenth", but "unto whom even Abraham gave a tenth".
Abraham is here called "the patriarch". The Hebrews held that there were three sorts
of patriarchs. The heads of the twelve tribes (that is the twelve sons of Jacob) and David
also were called patriarchs (Acts 7: 8, 9; 2: 29). Of greater dignity than these were
held Isaac and Jacob, but chiefest of all was Abraham, the first father of the race. If
therefore one was greater than Abraham, how great he must be! This is the argument of
the Apostle.
The sons of Levi in their capacity as priests received tithes from the people according
to the law; yet these men, says verse 8, were mortal, but Melchisedec, in type, "liveth".
Levi was in the loins of his father Abraham when the tithe was given, and so, in practice,
the whole priesthood of Israel acknowledged the superiority of the order of Melchisedec.
Not only is Melchisedec's greatness manifested in what Abraham gave to him, but also in
what he, Melchisedec, gave to Abraham:
"But he whose genealogy is not reckoned from them
(1) received tithes from Abraham, and
(2) blessed him that had the promises" (verse 6).
The greater Abraham is made to appear, the greater must Melchisedec be, for "without
all contradiction the less is blessed of the better" (verse 7). Abraham is specially marked
out as "the patriarch" and "he who received the promises". That this receiving of the
promises was no small thing Heb. 6: 13-16 bears witness. Nevertheless it was
Melchisedec who blessed Abraham.
We have now passed in review the fourth of a series of comparisons instituted with the
object of showing the greatness of Christ. We have in:
(1)
Chapter 1: His superiority to ANGELS. He the Son. They the ministers.
(2)
Chapter 3: His superiority to MOSES. He the Son. Moses the servant.